During the endless months you found yourself sequestering, social distancing, and adopting a new lifestyle to cope with Covid-19, did you create a wish list of things you wanted to do as soon as travel was again available and open to you? In case you hadn’t heard the news, October 1, 2020, marked a grand opening for the tourism industry in Belize because that’s the day the international airport reopened for travelers.

Immediately after this, hotels, resorts, restaurants, and attractions were ready to open, too – and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Mandated by Belize tourism authorities, word spread throughout the nation that no property could open to visitors unless it met a long list of conditions related to the virus that was capable of reassuring guests. These sanctions included masks, social distancing, temperature checks, and internationally-approved health, sanitation, and ventilation standards.

How impactful have these required measures proven to be for tourists hesitant to get on a plane? Harvard University scholars say that flying is “as safe or substantially safer” than more routine activities like dining out or shopping, and resort practices are equally stringent and impactful.

If you’re sick of waiting and need that vacation more than ever, look into booking a stay at Chabil Mar, the award-winning beach property located on the Placencia peninsula. Because Chabil Mar met all of the criteria for a safe and healthy environment, the property received one of the very first “Gold Standard Hotel” designations so there is no safer resort on the peninsula. If you’re more than ready to round out your year by vacationing under the warm sun, you’ve still got time to make a reservation and replace all of that hoping and wishing with packing and planning.

Here’s your game plan: Start by seeing what awaits you at this lush enclave of tropical beauty and luxury via photos guaranteed to delight all of your senses. Once you’ve seen what awaits, head for the resort’s page that describes year-end specials and packages – extraordinary offers rarely seen at this time of year. Choose the Belize vacation package that best fits your desires and use any of the communication conduits available to you to match up your ideal travel dates.

You did it! Ended endless months of dreaming by finding exactly the place you are meant to be at a time and place that you are likely to appreciate most by turning this opportunity into the perfect end to an imperfect year. Once you snag any of the discounted airfares available to travelers who book early, you can tell friends and family that you’ve given yourself the best holiday gift of all: Time in paradise.

For more information about Belize and Placencia, feel free to chat with our Concierge at concierge@chabilmarvillas.com or contact our Reservations Manager at reservations@chabilmarvillas.com. Or perhaps you would like to call toll free from the US or Canada: 1-866-417-2377.

While Belize has been reliable at restricting the transmission of COVID-19, this vigilance has paid off with slowly peeling away layers of safety and restrictions on what visitors can do, let alone come into the country. The newest information is that major airlines have been able to fly out to the country since the Philip Goldson International reopened on October 1st.

Belize recently lowered its international travel restrictions, expanding the “Tourism Safe Corridor” and now allowing car rentals as a viable means of transportation, meaning visitors are free to rent a car from the airport. This expanded freedom comes with the stipulation that travelers submit their itinerary and accept GPS tracking. Furthermore, restaurants with adequate square footage can serve more than 10 persons so long as social distancing is obeyed. This ten-person limit extends to reservations. Lastly, visitors are now free to vacation within the Tourism Safe Corridor, rather than remain on the premises of their Gold Standard hotel, with the exceptions of tours and activities.

American Airlines began flying into Belize on October 1st. Anyone looking to enter the country through an American Airlines flight can do so between the days of Thursday and Monday. While a flight coming from Miami only takes around 2 hours and 10 minutes to arrive, the return trip is closer to 4 hours, allowing plenty of time to reflect on your Belize vacation experience.

United Airlines (UA) began flying to Belize a day later, on October 2nd. UA flies to Belize between Friday and Sunday. A flight out to Belize from Houston’s George Bush International is roughly 2 hours and 28 minutes but a flight back only takes around 3.5 hours.

Avianca Airlines will begin flying to Belize on October 28th and flies every day of the week but Tuesdays and Sundays. Flights between Belize and El Salvador International take only around 90 minutes, either way.

If your aviation loyalties lie elsewhere, Delta Airlines will begin flying to Belize in the third week of November, Southwest Airlines will return service between December and January. While Sun Country and COPA Airlines will be resuming service, there has been no announcement of when.

If you have been wanting to visit Belize but were not sure of where to look, consider Placencia Village, Belize’s top beach destination. Since you will need to coordinate your trip with a Gold Standard hotel, Chabil Mar happens to be one of the best in Placencia, as well as Belize.

Visit our website chabilmarvillas.com for more information on Belize, and don’t hesitate to send us an email, or call US/CAN Toll-Free: 1-866-417-2377, Local: (011-501) 523-3606, if you have questions or need help in planning a Belize vacation.

COVID-19 has affected the world in a variety of ways. One way that Belize has managed to keep the pandemic in check is with its own health app. Anyone looking to come to this beautiful country is required to install and use this specific app before they will even be allowed to enter the country.

What Is This App?

The Belize Health App is the first line of defense against contamination from COVID-19 or any other major health hazards. If you are interested in flying into Belize, you must fill out all of your information no sooner than 72 hours prior to your flight. The required information includes taking a test for COVID-19 and having a “negative” result. This also allows you to use the express lane at the airport. It does not matter what country you come from or which nationality you claim, everyone coming to Belize is required to have the app. Fortunately, the app is available on both Google Play and the Apple store and can run on any Apple device that runs iOS 10.0 or higher.

Why Do I Need It?

The primary purpose of the app is to enable contact tracing. Every user receives a unique QR code that helps the Belize government keep tabs on the health of every incoming and outgoing visitor to the country. The most immediate benefit of the app is that prior evidence of taking a test and proving negative will expedite your time spent at the Philip Goldson International Airport. Because the app is used to track and monitor you, you must perform a daily check-in of your health and this will require you to be near the sort of internet access available to anyone foreign visitor staying at a gold star resort like Chabil Mar. All of the specifics regarding check-in details are covered by the app as you fill it in.

What If I Lack a Smartphone?

While the app is available on any Apple and Android device, Belize understands that not everyone is up to date with technology. In the event that you lack any relevant device, you will have to fill out digital forms through the Belize Department of Health.

One of the first steps foreign visitors must take is to book with a gold star hotel. If you are unsure where to stay, consider Chabil Mar. Chabil Mar offers premium accommodations and guest-exclusive amenities on the Placencia Peninsula. 

Visit our website chabilmarvillas.com for more information on Placencia Belize, and don’t hesitate to send us an email, or call US/CAN Toll Free: 1-866-417-2377, Local: (011-501) 523-3606, if you have questions or need help in planning your Belize vacation.